Perspective on growing up

Gaining perspective on life through the eyes of an adolescent girl in Africa. One of my kids is a wonderful young lady who has grown over the past 2 years I have known her. Each time I see her I reminded about what it means to be a girl in Uganda and the simplest things I take for granted are so important in her day to day life. Living off only 4 rolls of toilet paper every 3 months is a reality we have a hard time understanding in America. Or that her parents won’t buy her the feminine napkins she needs and so one of the items I provide her are a handful of lady products. So each time I pack up to leave Uganda I go through my things and place them in ziplock bags for her to add to her stash of supplies. What a different life over there. I first became aware of this unthought of things when she wrote me a small note saying please can you get me Tea leaves and Pads before going to boarding school. I remember that day clearly because I was irritated by all the last minute things I needed to purchase for kids we were sponsoring.

Part of what we do is encourage the caretakers to buy school requirements and slowly they are understanding we are serious about their part in raising their children. It always happens though the day I drop kids off and I see one toilet roll not there or a missing bed sheet, sugar, soap. It’s very difficult not buying everything for a child that needs it but I know that the mothers can afford some of these things and must participate to show the children their education matters to them.

When my child handed me that note asking for Tea and Pads I was taken back a bit and felt stupid for being irritated by all the demands on me. This girl just needed bare necessities of life and had no one else to turn to.

Can you ever remember a day when you asked someone for help and felt embarrassed to do so? It takes a lot to ask for help sometimes and sometimes I forget to slow down and see the need right before my eyes.